On Day Of Solidarity With Palestinians, Ban Stresses Urgency

On Day Of Solidarity With Palestinians, Ban
Stresses Urgency Of Reaching Two-State
Solution

New York, Nov 29 2012 12:10PM United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the
urgency of stepping up efforts to get the Middle East peace
process back on track, and urged Israelis and Palestinians
to show courageous leadership to reach a two-State solution.

"I call on Israeli and
Palestinian leaders to show vision and determination. I also
urge the international community to help them forge a
credible political path that will meet the legitimate
aspirations of both sides," Mr. Ban added.

Established
in 1977, the Day marks the date in 1947 when the General
Assembly adopted a resolution partitioning then-mandated
Palestine into two States, one Jewish and one Arab.

The Israelis and Palestinians have yet to resume direct
negotiations since talks stalled in September 2010, after
Israel refused to extend its freeze on settlement activity
in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Tension in the
region increased as violence broke out earlier this month,
with rocket attacks against Israel from Gaza and Israeli
airstrikes on Gaza. The eight days of violence left an
estimated 158 Palestinians dead, including 103 civilians,
and approximately 1,269 injured. Six Israelis - four
civilians and two soldiers - were reportedly killed by
Palestinian rocket fire and 224 Israelis were injured, the
vast majority civilians.

The violence ended when a
ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas was
declared on 21 November in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

In his message, Mr. Ban, who recently met with leaders in
the region, underlined the need to sustain the ceasefire and
create the conditions that will allow the resumption of
direct negotiations.

"The outlines of an agreement
have long been clear, laid out in UN Security Council
resolutions, the Madrid principles - including land for
peace - the Road Map, the 2002 Arab Peace initiative and
existing agreements between the parties," he said. "What is
needed now is political will and courage, as well as a sense
of historic responsibility and vision for younger
generations."

The UN chief also called on Israel to
cease settlement activity immediately, as this violates
agreements and obstructs efforts towards peace. "Continued
settlement activity in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, is contrary to international law and the Roadmap,
and must cease. Unilateral actions on the ground will not be
accepted by the international community," he said.

Regarding the General Assembly vote later today on a bid by
Palestinians for Non-Member Observer State status, Mr. Ban
stated that "this is a matter for Member States to decide.
It is important for all concerned to approach this
responsibly and constructively."

He added, "The goal
remains realizing the just and lasting peace for which
generations of Palestinians and Israelis have been longing -
a peace that will end the occupation that started in 1967,
end the conflict and ensure that an independent, viable and
sovereign State of Palestine lives side by side with a
secure State of Israel."

In her message to mark the
Day, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, stated
that lasting peace must be built on the basis of dialogue,
understanding and reconciliation.

She also highlighted
the agency's activities supporting education for Palestinian
children, helping to support the development and safeguard
Palestinian cultural industries, and promoting freedom of
expression in the region. "These actions reflect UNESCO's
efforts to build peace from the ground up, on the basis of
human rights and shared values. Education, culture,
communication and freedom of expression are forces for
solidarity - they are also the foundations for lasting
peace," Ms. Bokova said. Nov 29 2012 12:10PM

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